The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-04
20 yet we trust that somehow good
Will be the final goal of ill,
To pangs of nature, sins of will,
Defect or doubt, and taints of blood;


Defect or doubt, and taints of blood;
1--WE can but trust that good shall fall
At last-far off-at last to ALL
8. The Holm Name.-The Israelites were
forbidden to profane or use lightly the name
of COP. 1t was significant of His nature
(JEHovAH, the Eternal One), and must NOT
be employed to signify less than its full
meaning. Its use should be confined to acts
of reverence, to religious worship and in
struction. 1t was deemed sin to employ it
thoughtlessly, vainly and without meaning.
1t is said that the Jews we're SO careful not TO
transgress this command that "Jehovah" was
never uttered by them, but that another name
was substituted when reading the Scriptures.
Every use of the name of Cop that is not rev.
erent and thoughtful is a transgression OF
this commandment. Profanity is one OF the
commonest sins of mankind, for which there
appears to be no adequate temptation. 1t Is
mapifestly a sin of imbecility and foolish
ness. "Holy and reverend is His name!'
Would that it we're more commonly spoken
with reverence!
Profanity is one of the commonest vices, and
one the evil of which is little recognized. 1t
shocks us in the mouth of woman or child;
it would in that of man, were it not SO COM
mon. The profane man is not guiltless. were
he generally upright. He clogs his spiritual
nature the better half of him. He coarsens
his taste. He dulls his moral sense. He in
suits his Father. He corrupts youth. Yet he
has no motive. man murders, through pas
sion; steals for gain; sins otherwise, for
pleasure; but he swears through mere empt1-
ness of mind and lethargy of soul.-Dr. Demo-
rest.
4. The Sabboth.-The Sabbath was already
known among the Israelites xvi. 29). Its
observance was included in the Command
ments because the principle upon which it
was instituted is fundamental in the Divine
government. Time and opportunity for
bodily rest and for worship and spiritual
culture appear to be necessary to the highest
we'll being of mankind. By the command
ment it is made a sacred day, to be employed
in holy uses. 1t is a time specially conse-
Grated to COP and his remembrance. Ac-
cordipg to our text it would appear that the
Sabbath was to be observed as memo
rial of Creation. To commemorate the de-
liverance from Egyptian bondage is given as
a reason for the command in Deuteronomy
". 15). "That they might know that l am
the LORD that sanctify them," is reason
given by Ezekiel Xxx. 12). The devout re-
membrance of COP as Creator, Redeemer
and Sanctifer may be accepted as the Script
ural ground for the proper observance of the
Sabbath. On this ground it is of universal
and perpetual obligation.
From the seventh day of the week observed
by the Jews, the Christian Sabbath has been
changed to the first, the day of the Resurrec-
ton. 1t becomes, therefore, memorial also
of the love of COP for mankind, manifested
in JESUS, and of His life of obedience and
holiness.
By His sanction and teaching JESUS fur
Their sanctifed the day. He declared that 1t
was made for man, for his higher needs and
spiritual uses. at is lawful to do good on
the Sabbath day. Matthew xii. 12). 1t
ought to be employed for spiritual rest and
refreshment and in works of benevolence
and mercy. Both man and beast need to rest
on the Sabbath from the ordinary six days
labor. To wholly secularize the day will
transgress the commandment and democrat
ize the community. When kept sacred to
COP and the soul it becomes
'fDay of all the week the best
Emblem of eternal rest